BA in Psychology/MA in Art Therapy
The combined BA in Psychological and Brain Sciences and MA in Art Therapy degree is ideal for students who wish to combine their interest in psychology with a desire to help people and communities through art therapy. Program participants complete 12 graduate credits as part of their GW undergraduate program, thereby completing both degrees on an accelerated schedule.
Art therapy combines the expressive use of drawing, painting and sculpture with psychological concepts that may aid in healing the mind and body. The MA in Art Therapy includes an internship component in a psychiatric, educational or community-based settings. Founded in 1971, GW's Art Therapy Graduate Program is one of the first to receive approval from the American Art Therapy Association.
How to Apply
Students must apply to the graduate portion of the program no later than the spring term of their junior year at GW, and they must have completed 75 undergraduate credits as well as all of their prerequisites at the time of application. Students interested in the dual degree program should confer with their advisor early in their junior year.
Course Requirements
All requirements for both the Bachelor of Arts in Psychological and Brain Sciences and the Master of Arts in Art Therapy degrees must be fulfilled.
BA in Psychological and Brain Sciences
The following requirements must be fulfilled:
The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Undergraduate Programs.
Program-specific curriculum:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| PSYC 1001 | General Psychology | |
| PSYC 2101 | Research Methods in Psychology | |
| STAT 1053 | Introduction to Statistics in Social Science (or equivalent) | |
| Two survey courses (6 credits) selected from the following: | ||
| PSYC 2011 | Abnormal Psychology | |
| or PSYC 2011W | Abnormal Psychology | |
| PSYC 2012 | Social Psychology | |
| PSYC 2013 | Developmental Psychology | |
| One survey course (3 credits) selected from the following: | ||
| PSYC 2014 | Cognitive Psychology | |
| PSYC 2015 | Biological Psychology | |
| One course (3 credits) selected from the following: | ||
| PSYC 3112 | Psychology of Adolescence | |
| PSYC 3115 | Developmental Psychopathology | |
| PSYC 3125 | Cross-Cultural Psychology | |
| PSYC 3126 | Multicultural Psychology | |
| or PSYC 3126W | Multicultural Psychology | |
| PSYC 3128 | Health Psychology | |
| PSYC 3132 | Social and Personality Development | |
| PSYC 3170 | Clinical Psychology | |
| PSYC 3173 | Community Psychology | |
| One course (3 credits) selected from the following: | ||
| PSYC 3118 | Neuropsychology | |
| PSYC 3119 | Cognitive Science in the District | |
| PSYC 3120 | Neuroscience of Consciousness | |
| PSYC 3121 | Memory and Cognition | |
| PSYC 3122 | The Cognitive Neuroscience | |
| PSYC 3124 | Visual Perception | |
| One advanced research lab course (4 credits) selected from the following: | ||
| PSYC 4106W | Research Lab in Sensation and Perception | |
| or PSYC 4107W | Research Lab in Cognitive Neuroscience | |
| PSYC 4201W | Research Lab in Clinical/Community Psychology | |
| or PSYC 4202W | Research Lab in Applied Social Psychology | |
| or PSYC 4203W | Research Lab in Developmental Psychology | |
| Electives | ||
| Four additional psychology (PSYC) courses (12 credits) numbered 2000 or above. Only 3 credits in PSYC 3591 or PSYC 4591 may be applied toward the major. | ||
Master of Arts in the Field of Art Therapy
The following requirements must be fulfilled:
The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Programs.
61 credits including 900 internship hours.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| ARTH 6205 | History and Theory of Art Therapy | |
| ARTH 6207 | Human Development and Art Therapy I: Child and Adolescent | |
| ARTH 6208 | Human Development and Art Therapy II: Adults and Senior Adults | |
| ARTH 6210 | Counseling/Art Therapy Process | |
| ARTH 6211 | Process of Counseling and Art Therapy: Theory | |
| ARTH 6212 | Creativity, Symbolism, and Metaphor | |
| ARTH 6221 | Studio/Technique of Art Therapy | |
| ARTH 6233 | Marital and Family Art Therapy/Counseling | |
| ARTH 6234 | Group Process | |
| ARTH 6235 | Social and Cultural Diversity | |
| ARTH 6241 | Assessment Procedures | |
| ARTH 6242 | Psychopathology: Art and Diagnosis | |
| ARTH 6243 | Substance Abuse and Addictions | |
| ARTH 6251 | Research Methods | |
| ARTH 6262 | Career Counseling and Art Therapy | |
| ARTH 6263 | Ethics and Professionalism I: Principles | |
| ARTH 6264 | Ethics and Professionalism II: Applications | |
| ARTH 6265 | Advanced Issues in Psychotherapy and Art Therapy (taken four times for 1 credit for a total of 4 credits) | |
| ARTH 6271 | Art Psychotherapy and Trauma I: Theory and Approaches to Treatment (taken for 3 credits) | |
| ARTH 6272 | Art Psychotherapy and Trauma II: Loss, Countertransference, and Resiliency | |
| ARTH 6281 | Practicum in Art Therapy (taken six times for 1 credit for a total of 6 credits) | |
| ARTH 6292 | Special Projects in Art Therapy (taken for 1 credit) | |